Many colleges providing liberal arts courses are now altering their programs so that students are equipped to understand the business world once they’re through with college. Traditionally, liberal arts courses teach students critical skills that will help them in the real world – such as the ability to analyze, write and argue. In light of the economic downturn and the increase in college tuition fees, both students and parents alike are seeking a liberal arts program that is more structured towards preparing students for a career in the business world.

Colleges are heeding the call from parents and students and are now tweaking their liberal arts programs somewhat. Kalamazoo College in Michigan added a business major to their program last year. Over the past four years, Furman University in South Carolina has added a number of business and accounting subjects to their curriculum. At Claremont McKenna College in California, students have the opportunity to take finance and accounting courses as well as internships in these fields.
Many surveys reveal that employers appreciate the critical thinking skills that liberal arts graduates possess. Colleges are under pressure though to provide a balance between a liberal and business focused education.

“What (employers) want is people with the skills to think and write and speak, but the parents don’t want to hear that,” said Maria de la Camara, dean of Benedictine’s College of Liberal Arts. “If we want to stay alive, it’s like walking on a tightrope. You don’t want to become a technical college and totally focus on the professional side, but you combine both sides and do it well, and turn out liberally educated professionals.”

A Middlebury College economics professor, Michael Claudon, echoes the same feelings about the pressure to please parents. When speaking of the liberal arts program at Middlebury, Claudon said, “These are incredible life skills. But parents are convinced that they don’t guarantee Johnny and Sally a job at graduation. So they’re hedging their bets and majoring in economics.”

Many colleges are now allocating money towards internships for liberal arts seniors, to better equip them for a career in the business world.

Michael Dink, the dean of St. John’s, says that “we are feeling both pressure and a greater responsibility to do what we can in other ways to help prepare our students for life after St. John’s. And we are responding to that.”